2012 Summary_February 2013 Pictures_January 2013 Data

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Year-End Summary of 2012

2012 tied 1989 for the warmest year on record in Tucson, Arizona. The yearly average temperature for these two years was 71.4°F (21.9°C). These records reach back to 1894.  2012 was the 14^th straight year of above normal temperatures. It was also the 18^th driest year on record with 7.91” (200.91mm). Other noteworthy headlines for 2012 were:

• April 22^nd was the second earliest date to reach triple digits of 100°F (37.8°C).
• There were 73 days with triple digit highs (100°F or 37.8°C) the 11^th highest ever recorded

• January along with summer and fall were among the hottest ever recorded.

Saguaro 3-Feb-13

Ocotillo 3-Feb-13

Prickly Pear 3-Feb-13

January 2013 Data

After a record-breaking warm year in 2012, January brought Tucson records of the opposite extreme. The first half of January was the 4^th January 1st-16th on record. However, the second half of the month was the 10^th warmest on record. A record low of 17°F (-8.3°C) was recorded on January 15^th.

Overall January ended up colder and drier than normal. The average high temperature of 63.2°F (18.6°C) was -2.3°F (-1.3°C) below normal, and our average low of 36.5°F (2.5°C) was -3.3°F (-1.8°C) lower than normal. Rainfall at the official location was 0.81” (20.57mm). This was below normal by -0.13” (-3.30mm). Rainfall at my location was above the normal 0.94”. I recorded 1.02” (25.91mm) in our rain gauge.

 

January 2013 Pictures and December 2012 Data

Prickly Pear

Saguaro

Ocotillo

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December 1^st through 9th was warmer than normal. The average high temperature of 76.0°F (24.4°C) was 9.6°F (5.3°C) above normal. Several storm systems moved through the area the rest of the month. These brought colder and wet weather to the area. When these extremes were averaged, the overall result was close to average readings for the entire month. Average high temperatures were 66.1°F (18.9°C), which was 1.3°F (0.72°C) above normal. The average temperature was similar, 1.5°F (0.83°C) above normal.

Rainfall at the official location was above normal for a change, 1.18” (29.97mm). This is 0.25” (6.35mm) above normal. My location was similar at 1.22” (30.99mm). The rainfall made my husband happy with his new rainwater harvesting system. However, for the first time in 8 years, I had to move my stargazing night inside after already rescheduling it twice because of cloudy weather for 2 months in a row on the nights we had scheduled.

December 2012 Pictures and November Data

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It was the 3^rd warmest and 26^th driest November on record. The first week of November recorded highs in the 80’s - lower 90’s °F (27 - 33°C). The average high temperature for November was 79.6°F (26.4°C). This was 6.1°F (3.4°C) above normal. Overall the average temperature for November was 5°F (2.8°C) above normal. This is the 3^rd warmest on record. The official rainfall was 0.03” (0.76mm), which is 0.54” (13.72mm) below normal. There was a bit more rain at my location 0.26” (6.60mm), but it was still shy of normal.

Fall 2012 was the 4^th warmest on record with the top 3 occurring in 1999, 2007, and 2001. 

Saguaro

Ocotillo

Prickly Pear